Yeah, I think as lifters we always have a tendency to fall back on our own experiences, so since deadlift is your best lift that part of the equation is always going to seem easiest. 242 class is kinda a weird class for raw lifters anyway from my (admittedly limited) viewing in that there seems to be alot more Bench&Squat guys than Deadlift guys.

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Originally Posted by IronManlet

There seem to be a lot of Bench + Squat powerlifters, period. I've only seen a few videos of Deadlift specialists, and they were mostly in the SHW classes or very close to that.

This is generally because most of the *great* 242ers are like 5'7-5'8" 242.

As you optimize your leverages (gain weight to powerlifting proportionate height) they start to favor your squat/bench more than your deadlift.

Louie Simmons is famous for saying gain weight until your deadlift starts going down, then drop to the weight class below that, that's your "ideal" weight class.
Plus, raw or geared you can build a better total with two good lifts, rather than one good lift.